"The Story Without a Name" now named Without Warning
By Arthur Stringer and Russell Holman
An explanation on the odd title: The Story Without a Name was given the new title "Without Warning" in a 1924 publicity contest. The gimmick apparently worked to some extent; the film achieved some popularity. Reviews are mixed however. Moving Picture World described it as "...chock full of thrills and adventure" while Variety said "This one was strictly built for the sticks". Tyrone Power, Sr. played the evil mastermind "Drakma".The film is lost. The photoplay novel still exists. Here's my synopsis:
SPOILERS
The main notoriety of the movie is the invention of a "death ray" by our hero, one Alan Holt. Considered something of a quack by his some members of his own U.S. government, the villionous Drakma takes him more seriously. He kidnaps Holt and his gal, Mary Walsworth (an admiral's daughter). They are then separated by Drakma in an attempt to coerce Holt to build for him a working model. (Big Mistake. Never leave an ingenious inventor alone with electrical equipment!) Holt uses his cleverness to save the day.
Some sample dialogue:
"That means you can blast an army before you even see it! It means you can stop a submarine eighty fathoms under the sea! It means you can halt battle ships by knocking over their commanders, you can route an army without firing a shot. It's going to travel as fast as light..."
written: 1/26/2002
